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Easy Ways to Save Money When Shopping on the Internet or Even Locally

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:00:17 +0000

By Lisa Copen

Illness is expensive! Have you noticed? Those doctor bills, medications, rehabs, equipment. . . even when you have insurance it can quickly add up to the thousands of dollars.

There are a variety of steps you can put into practice when shopping on the Internet and locally. Oftentimes we get so busy buying the item we need we simply forget one of the steps and we miss out on additional savings. Here are some of the ways I have been saving extra money recently.

Feel free to print this out and sit it beside your desktop to refer to before type in that credit card for anything.

Ebates. You really do get a check.

Like “rebates” that you have received when you have bought items in the past, you sign up at this web site for free and then get a check in the mail later with bonus rebates. Rest Ministries is partnered with ebates so if you use this link http://ow.ly/9NLKw we will also receive $5 per person plus $40 when 4 people sign up (wow!).

They list the many companies they work with from Target to Vistaprint, Lane Bryant to Safeway, Walgreens to Tracfone; Overstock.com, Bath and Body Works, and even Groupon. You can see how much of the percentage of your purchase price you will get back from ebates.com.

I have been a member since 2000 and I have been able to donate nearly $700 to Rest Ministries from the items I have purchased through ebates, especially with print jobs.

Eating out?

The purchase of the Entertainment book may be worth the price here: entertainment.com . They also have many restaurants that have additional coupons you can print out and use after you have used the one in the book. The coupons expire October 30 of each year, so oftentimes you can pick up a book during the summer for just $5 which you can easily save in a meal. (Bonus tip! If you are going on a trip, you may want to peek online at entertainment.com to see if the deals inside would be worth the cost of the book.)

Have company coming or just want to find local deals?

Many people know about Groupon, Living Social, or Circle Buzz which can be a gold mine for finding local entertainment, movies, restaurants and more at a deal. But what if you missed the deal? There are many web sites that sell these deals after the sale date, by people who purchased it on time, but now are unable to use it.

Here are a selection of these sites:
http://www.dealsgoround.com
http://Couprecoup.com
http://Dealigee.com
http://Dealsgoround.com

I just found a $40 gift certificate for $23 at GNC for vitamins and such. This would be a great deal if I shopped for vitamins there! I also saw a $110 massage for just $24. Too bad massages hurt with my fibromyalgia or I’d be tempted to buy this deal.

Know what is on sale and when

I have become quite a coupon clipper in the last year. I tend to use Sunday paper coupons along with ALL YOU Magazine, coupons online, digital coupons, printable coupons, and store ads. I love the thrill when you end up with a Buy One Get One Free deal and you save over 50% off of the one you have bought!

This page at MommySavers explains the markdown schedule for Target and the Somewhat Simple site shares the markdown schedule of all kinds of stores (I don’t shop at most of these “fancy stores” but I still like to know when Kohl’s is going to mark down some of those outfits.)

My favorite weekly tips, the Weekly Store Deals Round Up comes from Clippin’ with Carrie She has a long list each week of what is on sale where. Where to find the coupons, what items are free, etc. I scan it and see if there is anything I need that I have missed a deal for.

Know your stores’ policies!

Every store has a specific set of rules regarding return policies, discounts, double coupons, etc. among the coupon forums it is said that oftentimes the people who work at the stores don’t always know the policies themselves. It is helpful to keep a copy of the policies of those stores you frequently shop at on your mobile device or printed out in your car.

Be wise!

Just because you can find a razor for $2 doesn’t mean it is a deal if you haven’t shaved your legs for 2 years. You likely don’t need a Power Rangers DVD even if it is just $5. But. . . there are some great coupons and savings for things you may likely need. I have stocked up on food, heated patches for pain, vitamins, and other items that I know I will use in the coming months. Most items at the grocery store that are on sale, go on sale every 4-5 weeks. Other specialty items may be about every 90 days. Buy what you need or else it is really not a savings.

What are your favorite money saving tips?

Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is gradually learning how to balance motherhood, family, illness, and ministry, but she still knows it will be a lifetime lesson. You can see the books she has written, including, Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.

RM Shop’s E-Flyer: Tired of Bills? Want to Feel Like God’s Princess? We Got You Covered

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:05:31 +0000

New hats remind you to have hope! You are God's princess!

Those of us with chronic illness realize just how expensive illness can be. Whether you are on disability assistance, private insurance or just trying to pay for your medical costs out of pocket, spring months can be a bit depressing when it comes to finances. Taxes may be due and all those medical deductibles keep adding up.

This week I am featuring a book I love by someone I am honored to call a friend, Ellie Kay. You may have seen Ellie on Inside Edition or ABC News Good Money. When she married her husband she became a military wife, having 5 babies in 7 years and moving 11 times in 13 years. She learned how to cut expenses! Then she became “America’s Family Financial Expert.(R)”

She has loads of endorsements for her book 1/2 Price Living that we are featuring this week. (For example, Gary Chapman, PhD, bestselling author of “The Five Love Languages” says, “For those couples who choose to live on one income, this book offers the practical tips on how to do it successfully”) but the important thing to know is this is a helpful book!

It’s also time to start thinking “summer!” and with it comes the sun. We just received these cute white hats with the blue or pink, princess looking swirl. With all the talk about royalty this week, remember, you are God’s princess (or prince, but we haven’t found crowns for you yet, guys. Sorry, I’m trying!) Keep the sun off that scalp and face and feel spiffed up too!

And the dog tag necklace? Well, it’s just cute! A nice reminder that God will never leave us. . . If you are looking for a unique graduation present this would make a heart-felt gift hat remind someone that God will always be there. The quality is excellent and made by the same people who make the Clinging Cross.

Thank you for your purchases and visiting our store. We’ve had very little income lately and the expenses stay the same. I’ve cut what can be cut. So know that not only am I super excited to get some helpful or fun items into your hand, but you are also helping us keep going!

Lisa

PRODUCT LINKS: [book] 1/2 Price Living | Hats – blue or pink swirl | Dog Tag Necklace

http://illnessbooks.com/1-2-Price-Living-p266.html1/2 Prc

Coupons & More Coupons

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:34:24 +0000

I love the little thrill of clipping out the coupon for an item I would have purchased even without the coupon. But it can actually be even a little more exciting to find printable coupons online that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

We found another site to add to you money-saving bookmarks: smartsource.com & then enter your zipcode.

Another tips is look up your favorite local stores on Facebook or Twitter or ask them if they have a site that offers coupons. Lately I’ve noticed nearly every little store I go into from Smoothie King to the movies has a Facebook account for that LOCAL shop with coupons just for local customers!

And while you are clipping coupons, if you see a big ticket item with a great coupon, clip it & as you are walking down the aisle past that product, just slide the coupon on top of it on the shelf. A mom buying diapers will love that you left that $3 off coupon there for someone to use!

How to Organize Coupons (personalbudgeting.suite101.com)
How to Get Coupons (personalbudgeting.suite101.com)

Make Your Own Artwork for Pennies

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 10:31:27 +0000

When you live with a chronic illness your house can get so dreary. We are often there–at home–looking at the same old knick knacks day after day, watching those dust bunnies grow into adulthood (oh, I’m sorry, maybe that is just at my house!) Well, either way, summer is just around the corner & maybe you are looking around wondering how you could cheer the place up. Or maybe you have kids that are out of school & they are bored & need a project.

Here is a cool little tool we found! You can create a poster with the printer you have, even though your printer will only take regular sized 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper. Posterazor has a great video that shows how to download this free software & then how to upload your print.

I can see taking your kids’ artwork & blowing it up big & dedicating a part of the garage to be their gallery. I can imagine, rather than connecting each piece together side by side, making it a kind of artwork, framing each piece in an inexpensive matching frame & putting it one a wall. Or if there is a particular quotation you love, you could print out a very long poster to cover the wall space over a door frame.

What can you imagine?

5 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy A Massage Chair at the Fair

admin — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:15:48 +0000

Okay, so maybe you aren’t ever actually tempted to buy the chairs, you just want to sit in it for a few minutes. We underst& (& we’re likely sitting right next to you, dreaming about how much better our chronically ill body would feel if this chair was in our living room & wondering if we could write it off on our taxes.) But before you plunk down a credit card, here are some things you should know. Here is an article we wanted to pass along to keep you informed!

5 Things You Need To Know Before You Buy A Massage Chair at the Fair

By Tom Resnick

One great venue to actually try massage chairs our various events. You can find home shows, county fairs & other types of shows where massage chairs will be displayed. This is a great opportunity to try out some of the latest massage chairs. Although, this is a great venue, you do need to be careful of some vendors. Based on our customers who have purchased at shows & our own first h& look, We offer the following 5 tips on how to avoid key problem areas to find the best massage chair for you.

1. Massage Chair Motors are Vital

You want to find out 2 things. Find out where the motors are made. The best motors come from Japan. They are precision made & long lasting. The motors need sufficient torque to power through the massage, since all your weight is put on them. You also want to ask how many motors they have. It is far better to have fewer high quality motors then many. You want to avoid getting low quality motors or you will have many service calls in the future.

2. Look for These Warranty Points

You want to get adequate warranty protection when buying a massage chair at a home show or county fair. You can sometimes even negotiate longer terms, since many times you are dealing directly with the manufacturer. You should at least get 3 years parts, 3 years labor & make sure they have in home technician service. You want at least 90 days as part of your deal. Check to see if it is nationally available. If its only available where you are buying the chair, then they obviously do the service from one location.

3. We Get Our Massage Chair From Panasonic’s Factory

One of our favorite sales claims is where the massage chair comes from or where it is made. Some of our customers told us that salespeople would claim to get their massage chair from Panasonic’s factory. This is a weird claim & we see it as a tactic to get you to believe somehow their quality is the same, but of course at a substantial discount to the Panasonic chair. Now, how could this be? It must be the same as the Panasonic, be careful!

4. Import Warehouse at Your Service

We saw a few small time massage chair operators. Ones that import one chair & sell them at home shows or county fairs. We are not saying to not buy from them. Every entrepreneur started somewhere! It is just you need to be careful, that you are buying for the long term & they may be selling for the short term. They usually have an arsenal of electronic gadgets & a massage chair. Basically, whatever you can stick in a container! They will offer you a low price & lots of features, but you need to be careful of how long the chair will work & if they will be around to fix it later!

5. This is The Deal of The Century

We all know the saying: If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is! This is certainly true when looking for a massage chair. The major manufacturers offer show specials, so you truly can get a good deal. Where you must be careful, are the small time vendors. They bring in a cheap chair loaded with features & sell it at ridiculously low prices. Avoid the temptation of short term gain for long term pain. You may be buying a long string of breakdowns, long waits for parts (if ever) & expensive technician service calls. Be careful of the deal of the century!

You can really get good deals & find some of the major massage chair br&s & top models at home shows & county fairs. We just want you to go with your eyes open, so you find the right massage chair for your requirements. It should last you years & provide you countless hours of soothing relaxation. Head our tips & you will be rewarded with the perfect massage chair. Happy shopping!

Tom Resnick says, “We trust you found this article interesting. Check out a Massage Chair Review on the best massage chairs on the market today. We author Massage Chair Reviews on all the national br&s. Browse our massage chair review library, see our articles & see what massage recliner is right for you.”

Appliances – When to Fix, When to Buy

admin — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:17:39 +0000

When I was young appliances were made to last a lot longer. When it broke, you called the repairman. Now day, however, it is sometimes more financially smart to recycle the old one & purchase a new one. Though the costs involved may not be welcome in our monthly budget, paying 40% of the appliances value & having it last just a few more months, may not be the best choice either.

So how do you know when to fix it & when to start shopping? With more energy efficient appliances as well as rebates, it can be hard to know which way to go some times. A website by Dan O’Neill, Appliance411.com can help you decide.

The web site has a lot of well-organized information even if you have to dig a bit. And most of it worth reading at some point just so you know where to go when your appliance starts making an odd noise. For example, Dan advise on who to call, ways to save money, what you need to know about rebates & recycling & maintenance tips for your appliances that can help you extend their life. Well worth bookmarking!

Free Cleaning Services for Women w/ Cancer Gears Up for Awareness Week

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:25:42 +0000

There are some organizations you run across & you think, “Now THERE is something we need for the chronically ill!” Here is one we especially like, “Cleaning for a Reason.”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZrhqElUfJs

Right now Cleaning for a Reason is gearing up for Cleaning for a Reason Week, April 18-24 , 2010. (You can become a Cleaning for a Reason Facebook Fan here to help them spread the word.)

They recruit professional residential maid services who are insured &/or bonded & perform background checks on their employees to participate.
Each company has agreed to take 2 patients at a time & offer four free cleanings – one a month for four months.
They accept cancer patient applications online, receive doctor’s verification of treatment & match the patients with our partner maid services.
To qualify you do have to have cancer & be a women 18 years of age or older. It doesn’t matter what kind of cancer you have.

They have obviously been asked about this service for the chronically ill because they address it on their web site:

Why women only? Why just those with cancer?
We do provide this service only to females with any type of cancer. As with any nonprofit organization, the resources are limited. The dem& is always greater than what we are capable of h&ling regardless as to whom we serve. We underst& that males undergo the same life crisis issues; however, we cannot serve everyone. Daily we have inquiries to assist individuals with disabilities, heart problems, MS, asthma & various other chronic medical conditions which all have a need for the services. Naturally, the list is endless. We hope you underst& that we have to stay focused on what we have decided to be our primary mission.

We applaud their foundation & what they have accomplished & don’t begrudge any woman going through cancer treatments a clean house. As many of you have experienced, you may have a chronic illness & then get cancer on top of it too!

But maybe some day there will be such a service for those with chronic illness? It’s something to pray for I suppose!

How to Pay Those Impossible Medical Bills

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:59:11 +0000

This is an excellent article about saving money on medical bills by Penny McCracken. It was featured on the National Fibromyalgia Awareness web site & we thought provided some steps & insight into what she did to lower some of her bills.

And while you’re there be sure to check out this article too: Stay on Top of Your Finances… Even When You’re Lost in Fibrofog . Regardless of your illness there is something to learn!

Obesity & Fibromyalgia: a Painful Barrier to Weight Loss? (drsharma.ca)
How Are You Overcoming Your Fibromyalgia? (ohmyaches&pains.info)
Musician with Fibromyalgia Donates Album Proceeds to NFA (fightingfatigue.org)

Want to Get Organized?

admin — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:10:57 +0000

Do you ever feel disorganized but can’t seem to find the right system that works with your lack of energy, budget & habits (like dumping the daily mail on the counter)? It’s a constant source of struggle around here!

So many times we have to prioritize exactly where to spend our energy &, unlike a healthy person, sometimes doing the dishes or taking something to another room to put it away is just not the best use of that energy we have.

Check out Get Organized Now!The web site literally has thous&s of tips from hundreds of organizing articles. They also boast 60,000+ current posts on. . .

Organizing Forum
Reader Tips
Organizing Clinics
Checklists
Newsletters
Challenges
Blog
Quick Tips
Web Polls
Slide Shows
E-courses
Organizing Idea-Pak

They say if you come back to the site a thous& times you’ll still not see it all & we believe them.

Do you have any tips about how you stay organized or make life easier? Share a favorite below!

Eat Out for a Fraction of the Cost

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:04:04 +0000

Wanting to have a nice dinner for a special occasion but just can’t justify the expense? Lisa has used a great service called Restaurant.com . You go in & browse the restaurants listed in your area & then you buy a “gift certificate” online that you present at the restaurant.

Only the certificate isn’t full price! You can buy a $25 gift certificate for just $10.

Be sure to read if any restrictions apply (some expire a certain number of days after your print out your coupon, etc.) They also send constant discounts on the certificates. They send out coupons frequently so you can get $25 Gift Certificates for only $5. It sounds too good to be true, but Lisa (RM Founder) has used it at about 5 different restaurants.

NEW Restaurants.com Gift Cards (alaskasbestgrocerydeals.blogspot.com)

Have a Space to Rent? Great Way to Make Some Extra Money

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 12:00:40 +0000

Do you have an extra room in your house that you would love to be able to make some cash from but you don’t want to have a roommate? Here’s a website we ran across & although we can’t recommend it from personal use, we thought we would pass the information on.

The website is called Sparefoot & it allows individuals as well as companies or organizations to rent out anything from an extra room to a parking place or workspace. If you have an extra garage space, or a free bedroom where boxes could be put, & if you are needing some extra funds to get you through a difficult financial time, this would be worth looking into.

If you are looking to rent out a storage unit at an affordable price, it can also be a great place to start. You can search for a location, including your typical storage unit, & see the spaces available based on pricing, distance, location, etc.

They also have a customized lease agreement that is available on the site for both the listers & renters. You can use this to make sure you have a secure transaction if you have any concerns. The website Sparefoot, charges a fee for the transaction object is equal to about 50% of one month’s rent.

SpareFoot.com – Find The Space You Need (killerstartups.com)
What Questions Do You Ask Before Signing a New Lease? [Ask The Readers] (lifehacker.com)
SpareFoot – Rent Out Your Local Storage Space On Web (gajeebo.com)

Christian Financial Resources to Get Organized in the New Year

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:26:22 +0000

If tax season has you concerned about what is going on with your finances, help is here!

We found a web site that is packed full of the Top 50 Christian Business & Finance Blogs that will help you underst& how to organize your own personal finances, get out of debt, set up college funds, save for retirement, invest, underst& legalese of financial issues & much more.

Some of these resources include:

ChristianPF.com: This site gives advice on everything from credit card tips, building personal wealth to banking tips. Also be sure to check out the “Money in the Bible” category to help you see your priorities more clearly.
Gather by Little: Use simple Bible tips to help you increase your personal wealth, “little by little.”
Why Religion is an Important Part of Personal Finance: Read articles about how to save money by cutting costs in unlikely places.
Christian Finance Blog: Browse categories like taxes, retirement, emergency fund, & more. This blog gives great financial advice that is “relevant to today?s Christian.” Don?t forget to check out the verse of the day!
Free Money Finance: Find tons of helpful resources on this blog inlcuding saving for your kids? college tuition, holiday spending trends, & Biblical investing.
Fallible.com: Katy McKenna Raymond writes about her personal Christian experiences often touching on money & finance.
Good Sense Ministry: Learn about the financial & spiritual benefits of stewardship.
Crown Financial Ministries: This site gives valuable information on organizing & underst&ing your money.

This is one page you will want to bookmark & refer to often!